Two Minnesota brothers, Noah Dingels, 11, and Cole Dingels, 8, of Eden Prairie, have raised $60,000 over five years for Tee It Up for the Troops through a lemonade stand they first launched at one of the organization's golf tournaments. The boys began their fundraising efforts in 2019 and have since expanded their offerings to include candy bars and golf balls alongside their lemonade.
Tee It Up for the Troops is a national organization founded in 2005 and based in Burnsville, Minnesota. The group supports veterans through six pillars: PTSD and traumatic brain injury support, suicide awareness and prevention, employment services, sports and recreation programs, housing assistance, and family and caregiver support. The organization hosts golf tournaments nationwide and an annual REUNION event in Florida that connects combat veterans with former battle buddies.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives have celebrated the Dingels brothers as embodying core American values of patriotism, entrepreneurship, and community service. Veterans' advocacy organizations with conservative leanings emphasize that grassroots initiatives demonstrate the strength of civil society in supporting those who served.
Chris LaRocque, executive director of Tee It Up for the Troops and an Army reserve officer with combat deployment experience, praised the boys as examples of young people understanding what it means to serve something larger than themselves. 'What a great message for all of us in our country, especially at the 250th anniversary of our founding,' LaRocque said. He noted that the reason America can celebrate its 250th year is because of generations who sacrificed for it, and praised Noah and Cole for recognizing this legacy.
Conservative commentators have highlighted the story as an example of bottom-up civic engagement working alongside formal institutions to support veterans. They argue that such community-driven efforts reflect American traditions of mutual aid and gratitude toward military service members.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocacy groups have praised the boys' efforts as an example of community-driven solutions to veteran support. Organizations focused on veteran mental health note that private fundraising plays a crucial role in filling gaps left by government programs, particularly in areas like suicide prevention where the Department of Veterans Affairs has faced ongoing criticism over its handling of at-risk veterans.
Veterans service organizations aligned with progressive priorities have long argued for comprehensive VA funding and expanded mental health coverage. Advocates contend that individual charitable efforts, while admirable, should complement rather than substitute for robust federal investment in veteran services. They point to data showing persistent gaps in VA mental health care access as evidence that private philanthropy alone cannot address the scale of need among former service members.
What the Numbers Show
Tee It Up for the Troops has raised just over $19 million in total funds directed to veteran support since its founding in 2005, according to the organization. The group reports having supported 400,000 military families over its 21-year history. The nonprofit has 45 golf tournaments scheduled for this year across the country.
The Dingels brothers' contribution represents approximately 0.3 percent of the organization's total fundraising over two decades. Their first year's haul was $359. The boys have garnered local sponsors in Eden Prairie and their community, with Snickers candy bars and golf balls joining lemonade among their offerings.
Veterans suicide rates remain a pressing concern. A recent VA report indicated that an average of 17 veterans die by suicide daily, prompting calls for increased prevention resources across the veteran services ecosystem.
The Bottom Line
The Dingels brothers' sustained fundraising effort illustrates how community engagement can supplement formal veteran support systems. Their story comes as Congress continues debating VA funding levels and as organizations like Tee It Up for the Troops expand their programming to address persistent gaps in veteran services, particularly around mental health and suicide prevention.
Tee It Up for the Troops will continue its tournament schedule this year, with the Dingels brothers expected to return with their stand. The boys have formed a connection with Harry Wisdom, an 86-year-old Vietnam War veteran who presented them with his Silver Star in recognition of their efforts. Their mother, Angela Dingels, described the experience as giving her sons an opportunity to meet veterans and thank them for their service.